Paris Longchamp Racecourse / Dominique Perrault Architecte

Curated by María Francisca González

Architects: Dominique Perrault Architecte
Area: 60000 m²
Year: 2018
Photographs:Vincent Fillon
Manufacturers: Effisus
Structures: Tractebel Engineering
Landscape Architect: Ter

Text description provided by the architects. ParisLongchamp is recognised worldwide as a highly challenging course. After two years of construction work, Longchamp racecourse has become ParisLongchamp. The new racecourse treats visitors to a whole new racing experience.The race for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is the highpoint of the life of the racecourse. Therefore, the main challenge of this project is for it to be able to host this event, which draws up to 60,000 spectators, under exceptional conditions, while also welcoming a much smaller crowd on ordinary racing days.

The project proposes to deconstruct all the stands dating from the 1960s and to replace them with only one stand, the new Jockey-Club tribune, which is both more compact and more functional. Buildings housing support services for the horse races, which are currently scattered around the site, will also be demolished and rebuilt in the form of pavilions. The historic buildings of the racecourse will be renovated.

The architecture of the stand is in motion, like a galloping horse. A slight overhang orients the interplay of superimposed stands toward the finish line. But this gap on the racecourse side creates stands that overlook the course, while on the side of the parade ring, a balcony stand is formed. In fact, all the features―terraces, walkways, transparencies, and open staircases―will provide permanent views of the entire racecourse with, of course, privileged views over the parade ring and over the course itself. The architectural concept is one of transparent “shelves”, with neither front nor back, enabling spectators to go back and forth from a view over the stables to a view over the racecourse.

The architectural design is very pared down, simple and elegant, allowing the gaze and light to pass through the buildings. The public is always in visual contact and proximity to the horses and professionals, without ever coming into direct contact. One could describe it as fluid architecture that guides movement, as symbolized by the overhang of the grandstand, which also allows the landscape to pass through it. Hidden in nature, The Paris Longchamp racecourse revives the charm of garden parties of the past, of promenades in the wood and the poetry of the Bagatelle gardens, while also offering comfort for all types of public and an effective and efficient facility for all the betters.

Paris Longchamp Racecourse / Dominique Perrault Architecte - Image 9 of 51 — © Vincent Fillon

The project for Paris Longchamp will be a model environmental facility of its kind and thus meet the objectives of the climate plan developed by the city of Paris. In conclusion, the intervention consists of creating a more naturel place encouraging future planting; more ecological, thanks to an innovative design and the integration of both passive and active systems encouraging the use of renewable energy and the energy independence of its buildings; more flexible, by creating a wide variety of places enabling Longchamp to welcome greater numbers under conditions adapted to the diversity of racecourses; and finally, more pleasant, for the comfort of all users of the site, the horses, jockeys, horsemen and women, professionals and the public at large.